His Inheritance

Reckoning

"Your temperature is slightly elevated but everything else seems okay," the ER nurse told you. "If the fever returns or you experience other symptoms with it, please get in touch with your personal physician if it's a non-emergency. Otherwise, come back here."

Nerves were getting the better of you now. The niacin Nat gave you managed to mimic a short-lived fever. It made you feel strange enough to be convincing to the ER staff that took care of you. They ran several tests, found nothing. The clipboard holding your paperwork was clutched tightly in your shaking hand, half-completed and barely legible.

"Where's your friend?" the nurse's voice cut into your thoughts.

She'd walked you back into the waiting room that was literally filled with people, some injured, others visibly ill. Not only did you feel guilty because there wasn't a damn thing wrong with you, but you didn't see Nat anywhere.

"She'll be back for me," you said to her, finding a seat near the door, hoping it was true even as you said it.

Hopefully, she was getting to visit Clint. How she planned to get around Steve's men who were there to watch over him, you didn't know.

All you knew is that you were alone in the ER with no car. No way out.

If what Steve told you was true, you could be in very real danger. Someone shot Clint. Was it ordered by Bucky Barnes? An old enemy of your father's? What if they figured out you were there at the hospital? All alone?

You checked your phone every few seconds, hoping for a message from Nat. Praying you wouldn't see one from Dyson. Or Steve. Your heart raced and your anxiety was through the roof. The window was cold behind you, blasts of winter air hit you each time someone came in or out of the automated glass doors.

You needed to get back. Dyson had barely had time to react when Nat had rushed you out the door, into her SUV. The poor man looked on the verge of apoplexy as he stared out the open doorway of Steve's house, watching you drive away with Nat.

You wanted to earn a trusted friend in Nat. But what had you gotten yourself into?

Mere moments passed and you couldn't take it anymore. You started typing a quick text to Nat. You hated infringing on any time she had with Clint but...

You shivered in the chill from the door opening by your side.

You jumped in your seat when a heavy hand dropped onto your shoulder. The scent of sandalwood caused your fear to spike. Your phone tumbled from your hand.

Steve scooped it up with a speed that startled you, his sharp gaze meeting yours as he handed it to you. There was a dusting of snow on his hair, on the shoulders of his heavy black coat.

Oh, you were caught.

You didn't recognize the men who walked in behind him, both dressed in suits and overcoats as he was. The taller one had dark eyes and slick black hair. His face was stern as Steve plucked the clipboard from your lap and handed it off to him. That man made his way towards the desk.

The other man was shorter with warm brown hair, warmer blue eyes. His gaze was sympathetic on you.

Kneeling in front of you, Steve took your hands in his. It wasn't until then you realized just how bad you were trembling. Your heart beat so fast and so hard your chest hurt.

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked you, his tone soft.

"I'm fine," you managed. "I had a slight fever and Nat was nervous. She insisted..." It was the best you could remember on what she told you to say.

Steve's smirk was knowing. "I'm sure she did."

Still, he insisted on talking to the nurse who attended you, the older woman charmed by his polished appearance, his obvious concern for you.